Nanaimo Opposes Vancouver Garbage Incinerator

NANAIMO, B.C. - An enthusiastic crowd gave Nanaimo, B.C., Mayor John Ruttan a loud cheer as he moved to snuff out plans to burn Metro Vancouver garbage near his Vancouver Island city.

Nanaimo councillors have voted unanimously to inform the province and Metro Vancouver that Nanaimo opposes a waste incinerator near Duke Point, just south of the city.

Ruttan says Nanaimo will not become a garbage dump for the Lower Mainland.

He criticized Metro Vancouver officials for forcing project backers to remain almost silent about the plan.

A partnership of companies, including Seaspan Ferries Corp., had proposed construction of the incinerator.

A Seaspan spokesman concedes Nanaimo is strongly opposed to the idea, but Ruttan says Metro Vancouver could still push ahead because Seaspan owns the land in question and the property is zoned for industrial use. (CKWV)